Prepare to dive into the most spine-chilling cinematic experiences that have defined the horror genre. From shark-infested waters to possessed souls, we're counting down the most iconic horror films that have terrified audiences and left an indelible mark on pop culture.
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the spooky flicks that
00:18captivated the world.
00:19These are titles that have ingrained themselves in pop culture with lasting influence that
00:24shows no signs of waning.
00:2810.
00:30The Scream Franchise
00:43Lauded for single-handedly reviving the slasher genre, this franchise is truly unforgettable.
00:48The continuous output of films starring famous faces keeps it fresh in the collective consciousness,
00:53but not always for the same reason.
00:54It was once popular for its satirical elements and hilarious self-awareness.
00:58Now, its central villain Ghostface is the subject of fan fiction.
01:12Somewhere in between, the TikTok generation started romanticizing the mysterious Cloaked
01:17Maniac, and now we're in the era of Scream-themed thirst traps.
01:22In one way or another, it continues to be relevant, and that alone deserves some kudos.
01:409.
01:41Saw
01:42In this film, a masked murderer traps helpless victims in his twisted death games.
01:52It is probably not the scariest one out there, nor is it particularly commendable in its
01:57originality.
01:58However, do we still see the Jigsaw Killer pop up among Halloween costumes year after
02:03year without fail?
02:04Yep.
02:12We're still reenacting John Kramer's iconic dialogues and parodying his games.
02:17Even the film industry has repeatedly used it as a template for success.
02:21Why?
02:22Because Saw had the X-factor to blaze a new trail in horror.
02:26Sure, critics denounced its gratuitous gore and overuse of the torture trope, but the
02:30shock of it all has permanently lodged it in our brains.
02:358.
02:37The Blair Witch Project
02:55Not the first of its kind, but the first to make a mark, this found-footage film was a
02:59cultural reset.
03:01With advertising that convinced moviegoers there was some truth to the story, it went
03:05viral before that was even a thing.
03:23Tapping into primal human fears, like that of the Dark Unknown, Blair Witch was as visceral
03:29as it got.
03:30Its cult classic status birthed several remakes in the form of books, video games, and more.
03:35The mockumentary format has been consistently reused in film and TV since then and still
03:40shows the influence of the OG.
03:457.
03:49The Evil Dead Franchise
03:50When he started making this movie, Sam Raimi had a cabin in the woods, Bruce Campbell,
03:55and a dream.
03:56Little did he know it would go on to be one of the most talked about, controversial, yet
04:00groundbreaking horror movies in the genre's history.
04:21When a cursed text is unearthed, it beckons monstrous spirits from down under.
04:25With a bunch of ill-fated humans to possess, brutality ensues.
04:29The budget may have been terribly low, but the vibes were definitely high, and the same
04:48goes for its multiple sequels.
04:50Its irreverent style is referenced to this day, and yet cannot be outdone.
04:566.
04:58Halloween
04:59Bruce Carpenter's seminal horror picture was not only ahead of its time, but also created
05:03an undeniable precedent for scary movies to come.
05:20Starring everyone's favorite psycho killer, Michael Myers, Halloween makes no pretense
05:25about deeper messages.
05:26It's pure, unadulterated fright, striking the perfect balance between carnage and nail-biting
05:31suspense.
05:40Rather than flashy frills, you get a smoldering mystery with a fantastic payoff.
05:45The soundtrack is timelessly horrifying, and never fails to give us the chills.
06:00Of course, it hit the box office jackpot and quickly became the highest-grossing independent
06:05film of the year it was released.
06:07If you love these films, then you're also going to love Osgood Perkins' The Monkey,
06:12which was produced by none other than The Conjuring's James Wan.
06:16Based on Stephen King's short story of the same name, the horror-comedy will be in theaters
06:21on February 21st, 2025.
06:295.
06:32Alien
06:33A space expedition goes horribly wrong when a crew of astronauts find an abandoned alien
06:38spaceship and decide to investigate.
06:40We all know what happens when you tamper with something that should be left alone,
06:44right?
06:45Alien takes that warning and amplifies it a thousandfold.
07:04Director Ridley Scott wasn't playing when he set out to revolutionize the horror genre
07:08with this one.
07:09Fusing science fiction with screams, it gave us nightmare fuel of the highest order.
07:14Not to mention that Sigourney Weaver as Ripley is a female protagonist who's the embodiment
07:18of badassery.
07:24It's no surprise that it took home a bunch of accolades, including an Oscar for VFX.
07:28Not even its own sequels could beat the original.
07:454.
07:46Psycho
07:47The signature score of this Alfred Hitchcock classic has become somewhat of a meme in today's
07:52day and age.
07:53However, that doesn't make it any less unnerving in its original context.
08:08Boasting the most delicious plot twist, this Freudian thriller about an eerie motel in
08:13the middle of nowhere is exceedingly paranoia-inducing.
08:16Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates has a way of crawling under our skin and sending us
08:21into a tailspin.
08:35After all, who can forget the shower scene that, for its time, was so shocking it kickstarted
08:40the slasher genre?
08:42Psycho may go down as Hitchcock's greatest, though we can't say the same about the franchise
08:473.
09:05The Exorcist
09:06A little girl possessed by a demon and two priests enlisted to save her.
09:10How scary could it be?
09:12Scary enough to paralyze viewers with fear.
09:17William Friedkin doled out equal parts supernatural terror and deeply human pathos in this masterpiece,
09:23which terrifies to this day.
09:25Despite an initially mixed reception, there's no doubt about its global impact today.
09:44The vein of good vs. evil and the eventual triumph of the former continues to find a
09:49place in contemporary horror, and nothing could stop young Linda Blair's depiction of
09:53Regan, not even the heroines who came in later remakes.
10:002.
10:05The Shining
10:06In this stylish psychological horror set in the dreary Overlook Hotel, an unassuming family
10:28is plagued by sinister forces, pushing them to insanity, or unleashing the demons within.
10:34It's based on a Stephen King novel, directed by Stanley Kubrick, and stars Jack Nicholson
10:38and Shelley Duvall.
10:39Talk about a talent powerhouse.
10:56With as many interpretations as it has fans, The Shining has etched itself into the fabric
11:00of Hollywood and beyond.
11:02Today, you'll see traces of it in the unlikeliest of places, be it a parody in a random episode
11:10of The Simpsons, or a reference in Finding Nemo.
11:13Allusions to this classic are rampant, we're pretty sure that's not going to stop anytime
11:22soon.
11:23Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
11:261.
11:27The Paranormal Activity Franchise
11:28Because the name itself is now a genre.
11:35A nightmare on Elm Street, Freddy Krueger is an integral part of Hollywood horror.
11:45Rosemary's Baby
11:46This cult movie has a cult following.
12:08The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
12:09The bloodiest blend of social commentary and survival.
12:17The Conjuring Universe
12:18Being based on true events, it makes it infinitely more haunting.
12:241.
12:28Jaws
12:29You can escape a serial killer or exorcise an evil spirit, but there's really no predicting
12:33what a crazed shark is capable of.
12:35That's where master filmmaker Steven Spielberg came in.
12:57Today we know the deep sea is home to bizarre, alien-like species.
13:01In 1975, however, the sensational horrors of the ocean hadn't yet received a cinema
13:06treatment.
13:07So when Jaws emerged like a great white from calm waters, it made a splash, to say the
13:12least.
13:32Plus a shark's POV is novel even by today's standards.
13:36Fun fact, the elevator pitch for Alien was actually Jaws in space.
13:40That tells you all you need to know about the cultural footprint of this fear fest.
13:50Do you think these horror movies are overrated or iconic?
13:53Sound off in the comments.